Oceanside RCMP quickly arrested a pair of suspects on Tuesday (Feb. 16) after a truck was reported stolen from a business in the Parksville Industrial Park.
Cpl. Jesse Foreman reported that at approximately 7 a.m. on Tuesday, a business owner discovered a fence was knocked down and one of their company vehicles stolen. A thief had broken into the compound and stolen one of the trucks before using it as a battering ram to smash down the fence and flee the area.
At 10 a.m., an Oceanside RCMP officer on patrol noticed a vehicle with front end damages near Parksville Community Park. Foreman said the officer found it was the truck stolen earlier. When the officer approached the vehicle, the two occupants ran away.
All available officers including the police service dog and handler promptly surrounded the area.
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Officers were able to quickly (and without incident) arrest two Parksville residents, a 37-year-old man identified as the driver and a 17-year-old female passenger.
The suspects were later released from custody on conditions and will make their first appearance in Nanaimo Provincial Court on May 18.
The business owner was pleased to hear the truck will soon be returned.
— NEWS Staff